Meet the Board of Directors
In keeping with our values of Integrity and Accountability, RaG-US is overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors, representing seasoned experience in ministry, management, or professional expertise.
Jacques Van Bommel
President
(Mokopane, South Africa)
Jacques van Bommel is the visionary founder and CEO of Reaching a Generation. With the guidance of the Lord, and His vision for Southern Africa - Jacques and his wife, Lizzy started this work 17 years ago. They began the ministry with the idea to change the lives of a generation of African young people. Since then, the ministry has grown from South Africa to Zambia and Namibia.
Jacques is in his second year working towards a Masters Degree in Missional Leadership. He is also a pilot, enjoys painting and loves spending time with his wife and two kids - Lizzy, Nicole (19) and Jacques (17).
Hal Bredbenner
Vice President
(Raleigh, NC)
Hal Bredbenner currently serves as the Vice President of Reaching a Generation USA. He recently retired from a successful career in life-sciences and education information technology. He serves as the Executive Pastor at North Haven Church in Raleigh, North Carolina and has authored numerous books, including True Compassion, a study of biblical teachings related to the care of the poor, immigrants, the fatherless, widows and children.
Pastor Bredbenner has been married to his wife Vickie for 48 years and has three married daughters and 10 grandchildren. Hal and Vickie have been involved with children's ministries for decades, including foster parenting 34 infants, serving in Royal Family Kids Camps for 20+ years, and helping with the first international RFK camp, held in Rustenburg, South Africa. They've been involved in ministry with Reaching a Generation since before its founding and have hosted dozens of ministry team trips to South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
Vivian Edwards
Secretary Treasurer
(Raleigh, NC)
I am Vivian Edwards and I have always had a heart for children and education. My husband, Allan, and I have one daughter, three sons, and four grandsons. We began working together with children early in our marriage through our local church. We are currently working with foster children through the ministry of Royal Family Kids and at our local church to teens in need. I also served in the finance department of GRACE Christian School in Raleigh for 21 years.
My first contact with Reaching a Generation came in February 2009 when I went on a mission trip to minister to children in schools. There I met the van Bommel family and at once felt connected with Jacques’ vision and the ministries of Reaching a Generation. Soon after returning from that trip, I became the Secretary/Treasurer of Reaching a Generation USA. I am still passionate about what RaG is doing in South Africa, Zambia, and Namibia and wish to continue serving in this amazing ministry.
Rev. Gary Brothers
Director
(Cape Girardeau, MO)
I am a Father, Grandfather, Pastor, International Speaker, and Author. Growing up in Western Kentucky mine country, I began in full-time ministry by pioneering a full gospel church in Providence, Kentucky called Christian Worship Center. In 1991, I moved my family to the heartland and became Senior Pastor, of Cape First Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where I still serve today, along with my wife Rose. Along with the ministry and Cape First Church is Discovering Life TV. Discovering Life airs on two stations in the heartland region of America with approximately 10,000 homes tuning in each week. In addition to leading First Cape Church, I travel extensively over the globe preaching and teaching at conferences, events, and gatherings from small groups of pastors, to thousands in attendance. I have also authored three books.
Rev. David Crabtree
Director
(Greensboro, NC)
After serving as the lead pastor of Calvary Church for thirty-five years, Pastor Crabtree was elected to serve the North Carolina District Council of the Assemblies of God as the Assistant Superintendent and Secretary in the oversight of Assemblies of God churches in North Carolina.
Pastor Crabtree keeps a busy speaking schedule at home and abroad. He has authored three books, and his writing has been featured extensively in several Christian publications. He is the founder of Hope Ride, an endurance bicycle challenge in Africa that generates funding for missionary endeavors in Zambia. David and his wife, Cheri, are the proud parents of three daughters, two sons-in-law, and grandparents of six brilliant grandchildren.
Rev. Alan Neel
Director
(La Porte, TX)
Pastor Alan, along with his wife, Shelley, have pastored for over 30 years. He and his family planted Life Community Church in LaPorte, Texas in 1993. Basing their ministry on true accountability, character and relevance, God has expanded their ministry influence to touch individuals worldwide.
Pastor Alan shares the message of Jesus without religious pretense or political trappings. He believes the calling of the church is to make disciples and not just believers. While Pastor Alan's heart is for the local church, he also oversees and helps several congregations in the U.S. and across the globe.
Carrie Nichols
Director
(Miami, FL)
I grew up in Michigan, went to college in Oklahoma, but from the time I was 15, I knew I would one day live in New York City. I have called the Big Apple home since the early 1990's and seen it go through many seasons - mostly good but some very tragic. I work in the world of Finance, but my passion is International Missions. I am the Global Missions Coordinator for my church, New York Dream Center and have led 8 teams to Haiti and Zambia and have been on numerous other mission trips to places like Iraq, Cambodia and 10 other African countries. I first served with RaG in 2015 as part of a Medical Mission and learned that a main focus of theirs is building water wells. Since 2016, I have led teams annually to Zambia to help build and fund over 20 water wells for villages in the Western Province. It is truly amazing what God will do when you say 'Here am I, send me.'
Paul Ivaska
Director
(Arlington Heights, IL)
I was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1978 and have been a member of Northwest Assembly of God since 1982, where I currently serve on the Deacon Board. I have lived in Arlington Heights, Illinois with my wife of 50 years, Vicki. We have three children, Joshua, Jennifer and Sara and four grandchildren. I am retired, but worked for the Village of Arlington Heights for 41 years - first as a Police Officer and Investigator and then 21 years as a Network Administrator. I serve on the Board of
Big Roche a Cri lake where I spend much of my time with family and friends at our cabin. I have traveled to South Africa four times.
Chad Perkins
Director
(Jay, OK)
I live on a cattle ranch with my wife of 22 years, Annie. We have three children, Luke (17), Caleb (15), and Kaylee (11). I work as a Physician Assistant and hold the position of Medical Director over urgent cares in Northeast Oklahoma, as my other day job. We have been actively involved with RaG since a mission trip in 2012. We developed an instant friendship with the
van Bommels at that time and have been so grateful to be a part since. It has been an honor to serve on the Board since 2019. I look forward to many more years with RaG.
Vergil Kjerstad
Director
(Rapid City, SD)
Growing up on a farm and ranch in western South Dakota as the eldest of 7 children, taught Vergil responsibility and entrepreneurship. He has owned and operated several businesses including a construction company, farm and ranch, a resort of individually owned homes, a LegalShield business which protects the legal rights of the average person and gives identity theft protection. He was President and helped to start two private schools, is a lifetime member of The Gideons International, has served on the Board of Regents at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School and is currently a member of the President’s Council there, is a deacon at our local church, and is a member of several committees throughout the community including the missions board at First Assembly of God Church in Rapid City, South Dakota. Vergil served our country for over 36 years before being honorably discharged from the South Dakota Army National Guard.
Vergil is husband to Judy, father to three grown children, and grandfather to 11 grandchildren. He mentors and prays daily for all family members and many individual missionaries and missions throughout the world. He has always had a heart for missions and his business practices and personal life have always been centered around sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
John McMains
Director
(Raleigh, NC)
John is the CEO of Principled Technologies, Inc., a technical marketing company based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. John grew up in Upstate New York and has an Electrical Engineering degree from Rochester Institute of Technology. John has been involved in Reaching a Generation since its inception, as well as other Christian charities both in the U.S. and abroad. John has been married to his wife, Christina, for 33
years and they have 3 children that have all spent time working for Reaching a Generation in Africa. Jenna, 22, is a medical student. Grant, 25, is a officer in the United States Army and is married to Christa, a park ranger in Virginia. Andrew, 25, is a PhD student in Marine Biology and is married to Marianna, a Waterbird researcher in North Carolina. John and Christina enjoy everything outdoors, especially boating, beach hiking and cycling, and they currently live in Kure Beach, North Carolina.
Chuck Furr
Director
(Greensboro, NC)
Chuck Furr started Furr & Associates Financial in 1987 which later merged into Midtown Financial Advisors. As a Certified Financial Planner, Chuck uses his training and education to further knowledge in the field of financial services. His great passion is helping people realize their life goals through prudent financial planning.
Chuck has been happily married for more than 30 years, has two married sons, and 3 grandsons. As an active member of Calvary Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, Chuck currently serves as the church treasurer and a previous deacon. Chuck is an avid cyclist and has participated in Hope Ride for five years, helping to raise awareness for Reaching a Generation and donations to help provide wells and clean water for children through Reaching a Generation’s programs in western Zambia.